Apparatus for rough forging annular workpieces



p 1965 R. K. HILDEBRANDT ETAL 3,177,696

- APPARATUS FOR ROUGH FORGING ANNULAR WORKPIECES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1962 Fig.1

INVENTORS RAYMOND K. HILDEBRANDT WALLACE E. SHISSLER, JR. OTTO HAMMON B BERNARD J. KLAVERKAMP AGENT April 1965 R. K. HILDEBRANDT ETAL 3,177,696

APPARATUS FOR ROUGH FORGiNG ANNULAR WORKPIECES Filed Jan. 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 GQO9QQ 000000 INVENTORS RAYMOND K. HILDEBRANDT WALLACE E. SHISSLER, JR. OTTO HAMMON BERNARD J. KLAVERKAMP I BY 7- m X AGENT April 13, 1965 R. K. HILDEBRANDT ETAL APPARATUS FOR. ROUGH FORGING ANNULAR WORKPIECES Filed Jan. 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 iii & I-

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31 I I II I l INVENTORS I}, RAYMOND K. LDEBRANDT WALLACE E. SHISSLER, JR. OTTO HAMMON BERNARD J. KLAVERKAMP BY $473M AGENT United States Patent 3,177,696 APPARATUS FGR ROUGH FORGING ANNULAR g WQIECES Raymond K. Hildebrandt and Waliace E. Shissler, lira, Lewistown, Pa., Otto Hammon, Scotch Plains, NJ, and Bernard J. Klaverkarnp, Wallingford, Pa., assignors to Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 169,839 6 Claims. (Cl. 72-403) This invention relates to an improved apparatus for forging large, heavy metal rings and the like, and more particularly to a novel apparatus for the rough forging of large annular workpieces by means of progressive beaking and edging operations.

In the production of large ring-like members, a work blank is initially rough forged and is then finished by means of a rolling operation. Generally speaking, the rough forging operation includes a series of beaking and edging steps. In the beaking steps the wall of the annular workpiece is subjected to working forces which tend to reduce the thickness thereof in the radial direction, while in the edging steps the workpiece wall is subjected to working forces which tend to reduce the axial dimension thereof. The most common technique for carrying out the rough forging operation includes the use of a ham mer which by successive blows is made to apply the desired radial and axial working forces to the work material. In this type of operation eachwork blank is usually manually manipulated with the result that a relatively large labor crew is required, and the size and/or weight of the workpiece which may be accommodated is rather limited. Further, the manual work handling operations necessarily involved here are apt to be slow and this factor will limit the number of hot forming steps which may be appropriately performed in one heat.

The principal object of the instant invention is to pro vide an improved apparatus for significantly increasing the speed, capacity and efficiency of a ring forging operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for rough forging large annular work blanks, whereby the beaking and edging steps are performed in a novel manner.

A different object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for progressively rough forming the successive arcuate portions of large annular workpieces by a pre determined sequence of press forging operations.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for supporting and feeding an annular workpiecein a substantially horizontal plane during a progressive rough forging operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for performing an edging operation at two opposite areas of a workpiece in a balanced manner.

it is also an object of the invention to provide a novel 7 ring forming press having a horizontal actuating cylinder a rotatably driven table that is mounted in the bed of the press. a a

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel work supporting means for a ring forming press, including a power operated, axially movable mandrel and a movable lateral supporting means for one end of the mandrel.

"It is a still further object of' the invention to provide an improved ring forming press which has a vertical edging ram cooperating with a rotatable horizontal table 3,177,696 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 during edging operations and which also has a horizontal beaking ram that cooperates with an axially movable, vertical mandrel during beaking operations.

Various other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention of example,

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic sketches indicating the nature of one form of the method employed;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view in partialsection and shows the construction of the instant ring forming press;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken partly in section on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, but shown on a somewhat larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a portion of the vertical ram retracting mechanism shown in FIG. 3.

One method will be described in connection with the diagrammatic sketches of FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown, an annular work blank 1% is supported in a horizontal position on its lower side by placing it on a horizontal table if that is rotatably mounted on the machine base 12, the weight of the blank being uniformly distributed over its lower axial end surface. The Work blank is further radially supported by an axially movable mandrel 13. When thus supported, an arcuate portion liia of the blank is subjected to a vertical edging force by the action of a ram 14, and a radial beaking force by the action of a ram 15. The application of beaking and edging forces may be in any desired sequence; for example, the beaking and edging forces maybe applied alternately or simultaneously. Table 11 serves to rotate the work blank so that successive arcuate portions of the annular blank are progressivelybrought to and forged at the work station. Rams 14 and id are actuated each time another portion of the blank is in position to be formed and thus a series of successive forging forces are applied to the workpiece. The rotation or feeding movement of the blank is carried out in predetermined timed relation to the application of the beaking and edging forces and may be continuous or intermittent. As the annular blank or ring 10 is thus progressively rough forged, the ring walls are progressively reduced and squared up preparatory for the subsequent roll finishing operatiomthe beaking steps tending to reduce the wall thickness in the radial direct-ion, and the edging steps tending to reduce the axial dimension of the blank.

Using the described technique, no manual manipulaby way tion of the work is required during forging and Work-" significant when dealing with work alloys having a narrow.

permissible temperature range for forging operations.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the structural nature of a forging press according to the invention will now be described, together with a somewhat modified form of the instant method. The press comprises a base 20 to;

which are secured a pair of main side frames 21 and 22,

the upper portions of said side frames being mutually secured together by means of a bridge member 23. Ro-' tatably mounted on the base 20 is a horiozntally disposed work supporting table 24 having a tubular hub portion 25 that extends downwardly through an aperture in base 2t and has secured to the lower end thereof aworm wheel '26 that is adapted to be rotatably driven by a worm member 27. A bushing 28 is mounted in the upper portion of central opening a in table 24 and laterally supports and guides an axially movable cylindrical mandrel 30, the table and mandrel having a common axis XX. Mandrel 30 is adapted to extend upwardly from table 24 in cantilever fashion and is connected at its lower end to the operating element 31 of a hydraulic cylinder 32 so as to be power actuated between the operative upper, work supporting position shown in FIG. 3 and an inoperative retracted position wherein the upper end of the mandrel is flush with or below the upper surface of table 24. Guide bushing 28 may be replaced by other bushings of the same outer dimensions but of different internal diameters to accommodate mandrels of selected sizes.

A horizontally disposed beaking ram 33 is provided which extends axially through a suitable aperture in side frame 21 and is connected at its inner end to a cross head 34 supporting a forming tool 35, the work engaging surface of which is shown straight in FIGS. 3 and 4 but, if desired, may be concave as indicated in the diagrammatic FIG. 1. The other end of ram 33 is con nected to the operating element 36 of a main horizontal fluid-operated, preferably hydraulic cylinder 37. Cylinder 37 is operatively secured to a stationary head 40 that is supported and fixedly mounted on the machine frame by means of a base extension 41, FIG. 3, and a pair of tie rods 42 and 43, FIG. 4. A pair of ram retracting hydraulic cylinders 44 and 45 mounted in head 7 40 serve to operate piston rods 46 and 47 which extend through suitable apertures in side frame 21 and operatively connect the stationary head 40 and the movable cross head 34. As will be apparent, the horizontal beaking ram 33 and the tool 35 may be advanced through a forward working stroke by the main horizontal hydraulic cy1inder 37 and may be retracted by the cylinders 44 and 45.

A vertically disposed edging ram 50, FIG. 3, the central axis of which coincides with the axis XX of table 24 and mandrel 30, is bifurcated at its lower portion in that two symmetrically arranged prongs 50a and 50b, FIGS.v 3 and 4, extend downwardly toward table 24. It should be noted that. the mechanism differs inthis respect from that shown in the diagrammatic FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the edging ram 14 is an undivided member extending along a vertical plane through the axis of the beaking ram and the axis XX, the ram 14 pointing downwardly toward that portion of the table which is disposed between the beaking tool and mandrel. As distinct therefrom, the prongs 50a and 50b are adapted to straddle mandrel 30 and extend along a vertical plane tranverse to the vertical plane through the axis of beaking ram 33. Each of the prongs 50a, 59b is equipped at its lower end with a forming tool 51, one of which is shown in FIG. 3. The upper end of ram 50 is attached to a horizontal cross head 52 whose sides are slidably guided on the vertical ways 53 and 54 of the respective side frames 21 and 22. Cross head 52 is connected to the operating element 55 of a main vertical fluidmperated, preferably hydraulic cylinder 56, the latter being mounted in the bridge member 23 which is secured between the machine side frames 21, 22. As the tools 51 are adapted to engage a work blank at oppositely disposed areas in a substantially balanced way, the forces applied to cross head 52 and operating ele- -ment 55 will be generally balanced and the occurrence of unilateral eccentric forces will thus be minimized.

A pair of hydraulic return or retracting cylinders 66 and 61, are mounted on bridge member 23. Operable in each cylinder is a return ram 62 and each of these rams is secured to an auxiliary cross head 63 which through a pair of tie rods 64, 65, FIGS. 3 and 5, is connected to cross head 52; the tie rods extending through suitable aperturesin bridge member 23. As will be apparent, the vertical edging ranrStl and its tools 51 7 tion.

may be advanced through a downward working stroke by the main vertical hydraulic cylinder 56 and may be retracted by the cylinders 60 and 61.

Integral with, or attached to the lower end of, cylinder 61 is an additional hydraulic cylinder 66 having a piston rod 67 connected to a horizontally disposed mandrel supporting arm or bar 70. The outer end of bar 70 is adapted to bear against side frame 22 and is slidably guided in ways 71, FIG. 4, formed on the inner surface of the side frame. The inner end of bar 70 has secured thereto an abutment block 72 that is contoured on its inner concave surface 73 so as to conform to the cylindricalshape of the upper, cantilever end of mandrel 30 and to engage and laterally support this end of the mandrel when the latter is in its upper operative position as shown in FIG. 3. To accommodate workpieces of greater or smaller thickness in the axial direction, the position of support bar 70 is adjustable by means of cylinder 66. Abutment block 72 is interchangeable with other blocks, the concave surfaces 73 of which fit mandrels of selected diameters.

At the start of the operation of the press according to FIGS. 3 to 5, the beaking ram 33 and the edging ram 50 are retracted, mandrel 30 is withdrawn to its inoperative lower position, and the mandrel support arm or bar 70 is moved by means of cylinder 66 to a pre-. The workdetermined level such as shown in FIG. 3. ing area of the press is thus cleared for receiving a heavy blank indicated in phantom at 76 in FIG. 3, which is deposited on therotatable work table 24 so as to surround the central aperture of guide bushing 28. The predetermined position of bar 70 provides for ample space between the bar and blank 76 so that the latter may be moved freely during loading and subsequently the forged ring may readily be removed from the press. After loading, the mandrel is advanced or elevated to its operative FIG. 3 position. where it is supported by block 72 and bar- 70. Thereafter, the beaking and edging rams 33, 50 are either alternately or simultaneously advanced as desired and the slow rotary motion of table 24 caused by rotation of worm member 27 may be continuous, instead of intermittent, if preferred. When the diameter of the workpiece increases, it may partly be supported on the surface area 78 of base 20. Rolls (not shown) ,may be embedded in base 20 at 78 to reduce friction. After the entire periphery of the annular blank has been progressively free forged, rams 33 and 50 are retracted, as is the mandrel 30, whereafter the forged ring may be readily unloaded from the press and a new workpiece of similar initial size may be placed on table 24 preparatory to another beaking and edging opera- If the size of the next blank differs substantially from that of thepreceding workpiece, the position of bar 70. is adjusted accordingly by means of cylinder 66. For example, the bar may be raised somewhat to facilitate the loading and unloading of a blank of greater thickness in the axial direction, or the bar may be lowered in the case of ablank of smaller axial thickness to limit the unsupported length of the mandrel while still providing ample modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A press for rough forging a heavy annular workpiece, comprising (a) a frame,

(b) an edging ram reciprocally mounted on said frame,

(0) a beaking ram reciprocally mounted on said frame,

(d) individual power means for driving each of said rams,

(e) a work supporting table rotatably mounted on said frame opposite said edging ram, said table having a central opening therethrough,

(f) a mandrel axially movable in said central opening of the table, said mandrel having an operative position with one of its ends extending from said opening in cantilever fashion to support said annular workpiece internally against operative forces exerted by said beaking ram, and

(g) power means for axially moving the mandrel between its operative position and a withdrawn position in which said mandrel clears the table surface to facilitate the loading and unloading of said workpiece.

2. A press as defined by claim 1, including bar means movably supported on said frame and positionable so as to be in lateral supporting engagement with the cantilever end of the mandrel in its operative position.

3. A press for rough forging a heavy annular workpiece, comprising (a) a frame,

(b) a vertical edging ram reciprocally mounted on said frame,

(c) a first hydraulic cylinder vertically disposed on said frame and connected to actuate said edging ram,

(d) a horizontal beaking ram reciprocally mounted on said frame,

(e) a second hydraulic cylinder horizontally disposed on said frame and connected to actuate said beaking ram,

(1) a horizontally disposed work supporting table Iotatably mounted on said frame opposite said vertical edging ram and having a central generally vertical opening therethrough,

(g) drive means for rotating said table,

(h) a mandrel axially movable in said central opening of the table, said mandrel having an operative position with one of its ends extending from said opening in cantilever fashion to support said annular workpiece internally against operative forces exerted by said beaking ram,

(1') power means for axially moving the mandrel between its operative position and a withdrawn position in which said mandrel clears the table surface to facilitate the loading and unloading of said workpiece, and

(j) mandrel supporting means for laterally engaging the cantilever end of the operatively positioned mandrel, said mandrel supporting means being movable on said frame to a position spaced from said workpiece to allow free handling thereof while limiting the unsupported length of said cantilever end of the mandrel to a predetermined degree,

(k) the axes of said rams, table and mandrel being dis posed substantially in a common vertical plane.

4. A press as defined by claim 3, in which (a) said mandrel supporting means includes a horizontally disposed bar member arranged to bear against said frame at one of its ends and to operatively support said mandrel at its other end,

(b) power means being provided for moving said bar member substantially vertically.

5. A press for forging a large annular, substantially horizontally positioned workpiece, comprising (a) a frame,

(b) a substantially vertical edging ram reciprocally arranged on said frame, said edging ram having two symmetrically arranged prongs for engaging oppositely disposed areas on the upper side of the substantially horizontally positioned workpiece,

(c) a first fluid-operated cylinder secured to said frame for actuating said edging ram,

(d) a substantially horizontal beaking ram reciprocally arranged on said frame,

(e) a second fluid-operated cylinder secured to said frame for actuating said beaking ram,

(1) a table rotatably mounted on said frame and disposed adjacent said rams for supporting said workpiece in said substantially horizontal position,

(g) drive means for rotating said table, and

(h) an independently axially movable mandrel mounted on said frame and extending substantially normal to the plane of said table for internally radially supporting said annular workpiece during beaking operations.

6. A press for forging a large annular, substantially horizontally positioned workpiece, comprising (a) a frame,

(12) a substantially vertical edging ram reciprocally arranged on said frame,

(0) a first fluid-operated cylinder secured to said frame for actuating said edging ram,

(d) a substantially horizontal beaking ram reciprocally arranged on said frame,

(e) a second fluid-operated cylinder secured to said frame for actuating said beaking ram,

(1) a table rotatably mounted on said frame and disposed adjacent said rams for supporting said workpiece in said substantially horizontal position,

(g) drive means for rotating said table,

(h) an independently axially movable mandrel mounted on said frame and extending substantially normal to the plane of said table for internally radially supporting said annular workpiece during beaking operations, and

(i) means for laterally supporting one end portion of said mandrel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 186,999 2/77 French 78-24 330,875 11/85 Collins 78-24 436,676 9/90 Smith 29-534 1,236,470 8/ 17 Neuberth 29-534 1,493,155 5/24 Hummel 78-24 1,943,089 1/34 Rosenberg 78-24 2,052,355 8/36 Lippard 78-13 2,660,076 11/53 May 78-13 CHARLES W.'LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD H. EANES, Examiner. 

1. A PRESS FOR ROUGH FORGING A HEAVY ANNULAR WORKPIECE, COMPRISING (A) A FRAME, (B) AN EDGING RAM RECIPROCALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, (C) A BREAKING RAM RECIPROCALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, (D) INDIVIDUAL POWER MEANS FOR DRIVING EACH OF SAID RAMS, (E) A WORK SUPPORTING TABLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME OPPOSITE SAID EDGING RAM, SAID TABLE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THERETHROUGH, (F) A MANDREL AXIALLY MOVABLE IN SAID CENTRAL OPENING OF THE TABLE, SAID MANDREL HAVING AN OPERATIVE POSITION WITH ONE OF ITS ENDS EXTENDING FROM SAID OPENING IN CANTILEVER FASHION TO SUPPORT SAID ANNULAR WORKPIECE INTERNALLY AGAINST OPERATIVE FORCES EXERTED BY SAID BREAKING RAM, AND (G) POWER MEANS FOR AXIALLY MOVING THE MANDREL BETWEEN ITS OPERATIVE POSITION AND A WITHDRAWN POSITION IN WHICH SAID MANDREL CLEARS THE TABLE SURFACE TO FACILITATE THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF SAID WORKPIECE. 